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Image of Asia: Collecting alms in the rain

The Associated Press

Updated:
08/01/2014 08:11:53 AM EDT

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Novice Buddhist monks walk to collect alms in the rain following a cleric's rule of no footwear nor use of umbrellas on a street of Yangon, Myanmar, Thursday, July 31, 2014. Downpours during the monsoon season are intense, and often more than 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of water falls in an hour resulting flash floods and traffic jams. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

In this photo, novice Buddhist monks walk to collect alms in a downpour during the monsoon season in Yangon, Myanmar. Buddhist scripture and monks' ascetic lifestyle preclude luxuries, so monks collecting alms in the predominantly Buddhist nation can often be seen on the streets without shoes or umbrellas. The annual monsoon lasts generally from June until October in Southeast Asia, and rain falling at a rate of about 10 centimeters (4 inches) an hour can frequently flood streets and fields.